mba executive – united kingdom - bamf · after graduating from toronto normal school in 1942. ......
TRANSCRIPT
MBA Executive – United Kingdom Chairman/Liaison Norman Prowse
6 Kenwood Road, Edmonton, London N9 7Jd Telephone: 020 8803 2986
Secretary/Archivist Russell LeGross 15 Holland Park Drive, Hedworth Estate, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear NE32 4LL Telephone: 0191 4569840 E-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer Peter Webb Yewtree, Lower Road, Adgestone, Nr. Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 0HL Telephone: 01983 408169 E-mail: [email protected]
Registrar John D. McDonald 35 Mansted Gardens, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 4ED Telephone: 020 8590 2524 E-mail: [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Peter Jenner 13 Squirrel Close, Sandhurst, Berks GU47 9Dl Telephone: 01252 877031 E-mail: [email protected]
MBA Executive - Canada
Chairman/Newsletter Editor David Poissant 242 Harrowsmith Drive, Mississauga, ON L5R 1R2 Telephone: 905-568-0184 E-mail: [email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer Susan MacKenzie 406 Devine Street, Sarnia, ON N7T 1V5 Telephone: 519-332-2765 E-mail: [email protected]
Western Representative Ken Wright 2714 Keighley Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5X8 Telephone: 250-756-3138 E-mail: [email protected]
Eastern Representative Darrell Bing
75 Baroness Close, Hammond Plains, NS B4B 0B4 Telephone: 902-463-7419 E-mail: [email protected]
MBA Executive - Australia Secretary Tricia Williams
PO Box 16, Ormond, Victoria, Australia 3204 Telephone: 03 9578 5390 E-mail: [email protected]
Dispersals is published February ● May ● August ● November
2nd TACTICAL AIR FORCE MEDIUM BOMBERS ASSOCIATION
Incorporating 88, 98, 107, 180, 226, 305, 320, & 342 Squadrons
137 & 139 wings, 2 Group RAF
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DISPERSALS ● CANADIAN CORNER February 2011
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) that, after a somewhat uneasy start, saw 136,849 aircrew members graduate from training schools across Canada...a truly astounding accomplishment. When the plan was first proposed in December of 1939 the RCAF could muster only about 4,000 men in total! In a very short time Canadian training personnel would number 33,000 air force plus 6,000 civilians.
It was expected of them to be capable, by April of 1942, of turning out 1,500 aircrew every four weeks, or 19,500 a year...figures that would be exceeded. The evidence of their success is in the ranks of our veteran members and their comrades from across the Commonwealth, the US and the many other countries that joined the RAF, RAAF, RNZAF and RCAF in the fight against tyranny.
We’ll be presenting BCATP articles and stories throughout this year so please, send us your recollections to be included...we’re looking forward to them!
On the next page you’ll read of the loss of Lionel ‘Hank’ Hastings, a graduate of the BCATP and veteran Observer of 98 Squadron. We learned of his passing just recently and I take this opportunity to remind all: please do not assume we’re aware of all pertinent news stories; when you hear important or interesting news, please let us know...we’d much rather hear it reported two or three times than to not hear it at all! Addresses, email and phone number details are all listed on the inside front cover.
As you were,
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LAST POST
DR. LIONEL EDWARD ‘HANK’ HASTINGS (O - 98)
Dr. Lionel Edward ‘Hank’ Hastings, DDS, FPFA, FADI died 27 September 2010 in Regina, Saskatchewan aged 87 years.
Hank was born and raised in York Township, Ontario and joined the RCAF after graduating from Toronto Normal School in 1942. His BCATP training path included No. 1 Initial Training School (Toronto, ON), where he received a gold ID bracelet for the highest academic standing; graduated as an Observer at No 10 Air Observer School in Chatham, NB and No. 34 Operational Training Unit (Pennfield Ridge, NB) where he crewed up with F/L J. Knowlton (Pilot), F/O E. Eppstadt (AG) and W/O P. Perry (WAG). It was then overseas in 1943 and onto Dunsfold, Surrey where he and crew became part of 98 Squadron RAF.
After a tour of fifty operations, Hank was part of a crew flying 2TAF Communications personnel to Brussels when they crashed at Courtrai, Belgium 15 Oct 44. He was hospitalized in Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex where Dr. Sir Archibald McIndoe and Dr. A. Ross Tilley developed innovative reconstructive surgical techniques for the many air crew terribly disfigured in aircraft crashes and fires. All the patients were, as Hank often explained, “fried, mashed or hash-browned.” Hank’s injury was ‘mashed’: 32 facial fractures, 3 spinal fractures and a leg fracture. He spent a total of seven months hospitalized, including time in Canada, before returning to service.
Hank’s injuries and subsequent treatment qualified him for membership in the rather exclusive ‘Guinea Pig’ Club, so named by the airmen themselves, aware of the successful experiments of which they were a part. He wore his winged Guinea Pig pin proudly.
After the war Hank entered University of Toronto and graduated from the faculty of dentistry in 1950. He married Mary Orr in 1951, moved to Thunder Bay to practise and became, among many other distinguished positions, President of the Ontario Dental Association before moving his practise to Regina, SK in 1974. He lectured at Shandong Medical University, Jinan, China after retiring in 1988.
Hank • Dunsfold, 1944
‘Sneezy’ crew: Eppstadt, Perry, Hastings, Knowlton • Dunsfold, 1944
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That was the year Hank, Johnny MacKenzie, Dr. Milt Francis, Bill Fee and Bob Fowler O.C. formed the Canadian Wing of 2TAF Medium Bombers Association; Hank was named Chairman, a post he held until 2002.
Dr Hastings led our Association with the same vitality he exhibited in his RCAF service and in his much-distinguished career. Hank could always be counted on for valued opinion and guidance, even after he relinquished the Chair in 2002.
We miss him.
MARY CAROL (ORR) HASTINGS
Mary Carol Hastings, beloved wife and constant companion of Lionel, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on 24 March 2009 at the Regina General Hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Mary was born in Toronto, ON where she graduated from Victoria College at University of Toronto (Home Economics) in 1950. She met Lionel (Hank) while at school, married in 1951 and moved to Thunder Bay where she surrounded herself with family, friends, church and community. When the family moved to Regina in 1974 she continued to be active with her church, her heritage as a United Empire Loyalist and many other volunteer activities.
Mary was a kind, gentle and most gracious lady, who held a deep-seated loyalty to her husband, family and friends.
F. WILLIAM ‘BILL’ LOHR (P - 98)
F. William ‘Bill’ Lohr passed peacefully 25 February 2007 aged 84 at The Vista Park Lodge in Winnipeg. Bill completed a tour of Operations with 98 Squadron, flying from Dunsfold, Surrey and Melsbroek, Belgium. He joined the Winnipeg Fire Department in 1949
and served until his retirement in 1987, when he was District Chief. Bill was a quiet, unassuming man whose other skills included carpentry, cabinet-making and wine-making. Lynda Lougheed, daughter of Ernie McGowan (P-180) deceased, brought us up to date on Bill’s passing as she informed us that his wife Audrey had recently died.
Hank and Mary at awards ceremony; 2004 MBA reunion in Edmonton, AB
Bill (right) with Ray Park ‐ Dunsfold July ‘44
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AUDREY (RICHARDSON) LOHR
Audrey Lohr passed away peacefully on 18 October 2010 at the age of 85, predeceased by her husband Bill and sister Norma. She lived in Winnipeg and retired from Manitoba Pool Elevators in 1981; she loved being at home, singing with the music and baking. Her friends loved to come to her home for a square dance party, the best part being the food afterward.
A celebration of her life was held 29 October in the Park Funeral Home, Winnipeg, MB.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Ken Harrison (WAG - 98) • Not Up To Snuff
Gwen Harrison informed us that husband Ken is in hospital with three crushed vertebrae, a very painful injury. Gwen and I could not talk long, so I don’t have more detail, but I did ask her to carry our well wishes to Ken.
If you’d like to send ‘Get Well’ wishes their address is:
Ken & Gwen Harrison 3651 Albert Street (#221) Regina, SK S4S 0A3
P. Logan Morrison (AG - 180) • New Address
Logan Morrison notified Susan of his new address:
P.L. Morrison Room B6 Auxillary Manor Hardyview Box 2647, 7649 – 22nd Street Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0
A New Year’s wish from Jan Kloos (NAV/B-320) “Dear God: All I ask for in 2011 is a big fat bank account and a slim body. Please don’t mix these up like you did last year”.
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BCATP Celebrating One of Canada’s Greatest Wartime Achievements
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan In 2011, Vintage Wings of Canada will pay tribute to one of the greatest military and industrial achievements in Canada, indeed the world, during the Second World War. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was a stunning achievement in planning, construction, community involvement and aircrew training that involved every province of Canada, hundreds of small and medium sized communities across the country, and hundreds of thousands of airmen from Canada, the British Commonwealth and the United States of America. Harvard IV • Fleet Finch II • Fairchild Cornell Mk II • de Havilland Tiger Moth The appearance schedule for those four actual BCATP aircraft will see them in June at Rockcliffe Airport in Ottawa for the Classic Air Rally, then onto Langley, British Columbia for the COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association) convention. July will be busy: they’ll visit Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton and the Reynolds Museum (Home of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame) at Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Then it’s on to Calgary (Stampede), Nanton and Vulcan, Alberta followed by Moosejaw and Regina in Saskatchewan. Manitoba stops will be Brandon and Winnipeg before travelling to the Oshkosh Wisconsin show. August: in Ontario, they attend the Gathering of Classics at Edenvale, and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Mount Hope. Next stops are the Webster Memorial Trophy (at Grondair in Beauce, Québec) and the Atlantic International Air Show in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. In September they exhibit at Stanley, Nova Scotia before returning home to Gatineau, Québec for the ‘Wings over Gatineau’ Air Show (17-18 Sep).
To learn more about Vintage Wings visit their website at http://www.vintagewings.ca
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“The target for this afternoon’s operation was a strong point at location 721805. Only 11 aircraft out of the 12 bombed, as ‘S’ did not take off due to magneto trouble. The crew took off later in another aircraft (‘K’) but could not catch up with the others, so returned. Bombing took place from 10,000 feet and a good concentration of bombs was seen to fall close to a building marked with a red X. Fires were seen to start in the target area. Some enemy FW190s attacked our aircraft. ‘N’ (FW194) and ‘Y’ (FW211) were shot down. The crews are reported as missing. The Navigator of aircraft ‘P’ was wounded in the right leg by flak and subsequently taken to the 9th Canadian General Hospital. Intense accurate heavy flak was met N. and W. of Arnhem and slight inaccurate heavy flak at Dunkirk. Leaflets were dropped.”
The other crew (aircraft ‘Y’) lost on that operation were P/O S. Harrison, F/O G.R. Munton, F/S H.M. Nottle, and F/S R.G. Taylor.
“2nd Tactical Air Force” (Christopher Shores and Chris Thomas, authors) details all 2nd TAF claims and losses. Information for the 2 crews lost on the operation above is that except for Bowmaster and Taylor, all were killed. F/S Taylor is listed as POW; no fate is given for W/O Bowmaster.
My query to friends in the UK saw Russ Legross, archivist for the 2nd Tactical Air Force, Medium
Bombers Association, respond: P/O H.F. Bowmaster, from Calgary Alberta, had been held as POW #118006; from the publication “They Shall Grow Not Old” by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Manitoba. I have since obtained a copy of that most informative book.
A quick Internet search of Alberta turned up an obituary for a Freda Bowmaster, predeceased by her husband Frank and survived by a son, Ken of High River, Alberta.
Could the ‘F’ in H.F. be Frank? Another Internet search turned up Ken’s telephone number and twenty minutes later I knew the full name of Henry Frank Bowmaster (known as Frank), as well as many more details of a harrowing experience.
After Frank was reported missing, his wife, Freda, was left to wonder was he alive? Had he been killed? Captured? About four weeks later, while attending the Palace theatre in Calgary, Freda saw a newsreel of Allied prisoners receiving Red Cross parcels in a German POW camp.
Frank appeared on the screen...alive!
He was in Stalag VIIIC near Sagan, Germany, where he spent the balance of the war. The remainder of his crew were killed when the FWs attacked their aircraft; Frank had to parachute from the Mitchell and was captured on the ground. He spent time in a couple of other POW camps before being transferred to Stalag VIIIC by German train. During that transfer, Frank and
Focke-Wulf FW-190
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another prisoner jumped from the train at a station stop and made a run for it; the German machine gunners were too quick and Frank’s partner was shot dead. Frank was recaptured and put back on the train to Stalag VIIIC. His promotion to Pilot Officer came through during his time there.
After the war’s end he of course returned to Canada and Calgary, reunited with Freda and had a son, Ken. Frank worked at Crystal Dairies, which eventually became Silverwoods, and worked his way up to Regional Manager. He took up flying as a hobby in 1974 and earned his pilot’s licence.
Frank died in the crash of a private plane at Irricanna, Alberta in 1979.
F/S Bruce Llewellyn Williams, Pilot of Frank’s last operation, was a 21-year-old member of the Royal Australian Air Force. F/O Thomas John Lennie, Navigator, was 31-years old and also in the RAAF; both are interred in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery where The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for their graves in perpetuity.
There is no known grave for F/L Charles Bindon Carter, Air Gunner, 25 years of age and a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He is honoured on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England where 20,337 Commonwealth Airmen with no known graves are remembered.
Of the other aircraft (VO-Y) shot down that day, P/O Stanley Harrison (Pilot) RAF, F/O George Robert Munton (NavB) RAF and P/O Harold Morris Nottle (AG) RAAF were all buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery at Gelderland, Netherlands; in the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. F/S R.G. Taylor (WAG) RAF was captured and interned at Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug, Germany.
IT’S A ‘RUSSKI’ The craftsmen at Aero Trader have turned out another B-25 gem; this one reflecting the markings of B-25J ‘Night Attack’ Mitchells that joined Russian forces under the terms of lend-lease during WWII.
A part of the growing Rod Lewis collection in San Antonio, Texas, 44-30456 came through a number of owners after the war, performed various duties and once sported ‘Silver Lady’ livery. Rod Lewis bought and turned her over to Aero Trader in 2007 for restoration and the result, released on 15 July 2010, is a head-turner to say the least! Only in Russian markings will you see a camouflage paint job in gloss finish; exterior
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WHERE’S GRUMPY? David Poissant
Peter Jenner, our UK Editor, asked me what ‘Grumpy’ has been doing “over your continent” since leaving Duxford for residence with the Historic Flight Foundation at Paine Field in Mukilteo, Washington.
I knew she’s had a ‘full dance card’ but had little detail. John Sessions, the founder of the Historic Flight Foundation, was happy to provide 2010 details for us:
• April 16-18, 2010: Reunion of Doolittle Raiders (Dayton, Ohio)
• May 15: Paine Field General Aviation Day and ‘Historic Flight’ open house
• June 05: Joint fly day with Flying Heritage Collection (Paine Field) featuring Mustangs
• June 19-20: Olympic Air Show (Olympia, Washington)
• July 09-11: Arlington Air Show (Arlington, Washington) • July 17: Princeton Air Show (Princeton, British Columbia) • July 24: Joint fly day with Flying Heritage Collection (Paine
Field) featuring biplanes • July 24-25: Inland Skyfest, Fairchild Air Force Base (Spokane,
Washington) • August 06-08: Seafair Air Show (Seattle, Washington) • August 13-15: Abbotsford Air Show (Abbotsford, British
Columbia) • August 28: Joint fly day with Flying Heritage Collection (Paine
Field) featuring big round engines • September 04-06: Vintage Aircraft Weekend (Paine Field) • September 15-19: Reno International Air Race (Reno, Nevada)
John goes on to say that in addition to the full air show schedule, “We’ve received authorization to offer rides as a way to sustain Grumpy. We conducted a ground school last spring and so far have graduated two left-seat pilots. We will offer a second-in-command rating this winter. As a display, we let folks climb about with the instruction that it’s OK to grab anything painted yellow, but not OK to pull anything painted red.”
Visit Historic Flight at http://historicflight.org/hf/
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Editor’s note: The 180 Sqn ORB report of the 25 Aug 44 Op when F/S Lewis lost his life: “One of our aircraft ‘T’ HD316 (F/Sgt Lewis) was forced to ditch 12 miles south of Beachy Head through engine trouble on the way in to the target. On ditching, only the navigator was able to get out, the pilot floated out (still alive). When the aircraft sank two other bodies came to the surface (F/Sgt Curtis, Sgt O’Brien). F/Sgt Curtis was still alive but very badly injured. Sgt O’Brien’s face was unrecognizable. The navigator (F/O Hodder) did all he could to assist the others, but both had died before a WALRUS aircraft (277 Squadron) picked them up three hours after ditching. F/O Hodder was eventually admitted to Shortlands Hospital, Shoreham with slight concussion. (F/Sgt Walters went down with the aircraft.)”
F/S William Radcliff Lewis Pilot (RNZAF) of Auckland City, New Zealand; F/S Kenneth George Curtis WAG (RNZAF) of Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand and Sgt Lawrence O’Brien AG (RAF) of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England are buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey where the Commonwealth War Graves Commission tends their graves in perpetuity. F/S Henry George Walters AG (RNZAF) of New Zealand is remembered by name (on panel 264) of the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey where 20,332 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe and who have no known graves are commemorated.
320 Squadron Mitchells with 602 Squadron Spitfire escort engaging FW190s Computer-generated painting by Dutch Artist Wiek Luiken http://www.luijken.com/?page_id=450
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HIRE L
on Richard wad written ab
ostons of bowore his FAs Day 2009. f what he did
16
Vaast followtry-en-Artoispe Lorrane inven me an RAAssociation.ngside our f
us under thehe Officers’ged to vacatgne were exf fascinatingwas in the had been to
ck to Englandiers before lly fulfilling
on. His ele David - a
ime RAF a Frenchw
left and saes we promind meet up w live.
wonderful ere that Bill wl, giving us tm/video/xfdext
morial from the iation’s wreath
LAD IN
were with us bout ‘A Luc
oth 88 and 3AFL lapel b
Sarah saysd…I have le
ed by a milis air base wn France 66 AF poppy w I became q
family arran
ir wing and Mess by thte the premixcellent andg conversatio
Resistance o help a downd. He laterhe escaped his ambitio
egant wife, Scot - was apilot and
woman, Janaid our teaised to keepin Paris wh
experience anwas watchingthe ‘thumbs t_66e-ceremonMorris family.
h]
LORRR
at the re-uncky Life’, ‘T
42, Lorrainebadge, presens, “I wantedearned many
itary ceremowhere we lai
years earlierwreath to takequite emotiongement of
later treatedhe Luftwaffeises in 1944d we enjoyeon with ouras a teenag
wned Spitfirr helped othacross the C
on to train asFortuna, h
also had ine.
arful p in here
nd g up’!
nmie-du-groupe. They are see
RAINE
nion. In the fThe Wartime
e Squadronsnted by Gen
d to share my things abou
ony in the chid flowers ar to the day.e on behalf o
onal and the English ros
d us to a meae - until they4! The fooded three andr charming hger and hisre pilot makher Allied aiChannel hims a pilot withhad served
e-lorraine, whien about to lay
front of her e Adventures
, so his storyn Gueguen,
my husband But his experie
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mind s of a
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Bill’s ences
17
with the RAF [For most of his life he rarely spoke about his experiences]. His story is one that was lived through by thousands of young men -- but all of their experiences were unique.”
Which sums it up; a straight forward but valuable story told with love. And thank goodness for its telling. The atmosphere at the re-unions is created by comrades; an atmosphere that rarely exists to such depth and must not be forgotten; the relationship of my crew and my ground crew is a ‘kaa’ that the generations who, because of its outcome, live the way they do; when even in hard times we can grumble out loud; should know about and revere.
Sarah Morris has provided a knob of understanding; may it flavour the thoughts of young and younger. ‘Bill Morris - A Lucky Life’ is an account of one man's wartime exploits in the RAF - in many ways similar to the shared experiences of thousands of others, but as with all of those young lives, totally unique and worth recounting
Born into a poor working class family in Bolton in 1921, Bill Morris was destined to spend his life working in a cotton mill until the Second World War intervened. He joined the RAF in 1941 and volunteered for aircrew duty as a pilot - only to be told that his legs were too short! Undeterred, he trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - an occupation that few of his contemporaries survived. He served in the 2nd Tactical Air Force with 88 and 342 Squadrons flying operations over northern France from 1943 to 1944.
Bill was one of the lucky ones. Not only did he live to tell the tale but his War also involved attacking German V1 flying bomb launch sites, joining a Free French squadron, rubbing shoulders with Eisenhower and King George - and taking part in an Operation on D Day that officially never happened.
He also found time to court the girl of his dreams! A ‘lucky life’ indeed. The book is available through either Sarah at 32 SPINNING FIELDS, BOLTON, LANCS., BL1 3BB or Brian Mills, (Designer and Editor) [email protected] at £ 8.99 including UK postage etc. Once Sarah’s expenses are covered profit will go to SAFA & Dementia charities.
ARCHIVISTS REPORT 100
Russell Legross
In opening my report for this issue I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members a Happy, prosperous and especially a healthy New Year
Hopefully this year will bring further recollections of the exploits of the Squadrons of 2nd TAF. I have received from John Clifton details of his involvement in an Op in September 1944 which was to destroy barges which were to be used for the escape of the Germans from the islands around Breskins/Flushing.
John’s comments on this particular Op were as follows “This was a fairly short trip with the usual flak but we were in and out fairly quickly.” During this period further Ops were carried out in Scheldt area with devastating effect to the enemy.
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EXODUS IN THE CENTURION’S MANNA
The 1650th anniversary of AD 360 when the Barbarian Huns were driven out of Roman Europe they operated a scorched earth policy. Food, crops, granaries were destroyed, leaving the inhabitants to starve. Starvation was prevented by shipping grain from the British harvests. Emperor Julius had the use of 200 merchant ships which were slightly larger than the galleys; he had another 400 built. With these, grain was shipped to Europe, mainly via the Rhine.
The 65th anniversary of AD 1945 when the Nazi Huns had been driven out of Southern Holland rations were drastically cut in the Northern occupied territory; because of a Dutch railway strike (Requested by the Dutch Government in UK) around Market Garden time, what food there was the Germans allowed to be transported only by water. Although The Netherlands has an extensive canal system a severe winter had frozen them solid. An elderly couple I met who lived on the wrong side of the River Maas told of being lucky to have lived on a farm growing sugar beets; some of which they managed to keep from the enemy to use as their staple diet; a ‘far from tasty’ dish. The ‘Hongerwinter’. Bomber Command are said to have used 30 Squadrons of Lancs and Mossies and the U.S.A.A.F to drop 11,000 tons of food. [I have not yet found official entries, but were any 2nd T.A.F. Mossies or airfields used?] On 29 Apr 45 the people of Holland heard the BBC announce: "Bombers of the Royal Air Force have just taken off from their bases in England to drop food supplies to the Dutch population in enemy-occupied territory”. The Lancasters flew at very low altitude (typically 500 ft or less) and at very slow speed. One Canadian pilot recalled: "flying by a windmill and people waved at us from its balcony. You understand, we had to look up to wave back!" Rear gunner "Tail End Charlie" Sgt. Ken Wood remembered: "People were everywhere - on the streets, on the roofs, leaning out of windows. They all had something to wave with; a handkerchief, a sheet - it was incredible” Pbfoot again: Interesting facts I'm aware of was the now author Farley Mowat and a fellow officer of the Canadian ‘Hasty Pees’ regiment walked through German lines to attempt to get to see the German General Blaskowitz in hopes he would allow food drops, as far as I know the walk was not authorized but after more then a little booze they succeeded in getting the
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